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4: Annual witch gathering, Catemaco, MexicoMexico’s Lake Catemaco has a long historical connection with the occult and alternative medicines that is said to date back more than 1,000 years. The Congreso de Brujos sees a whole host of them get together for an annual shebang. www.visitmexico.com

11 to 20: South By Southwest, Austin, TexasSXSW (to give it its trendy name) is the US version of Glastonbury, without the camping. Film, music and art are all featured and this year’s line-up sees performances headed by a rejuvenated Billy Idol, Erykah Badu and Robyn Hitchcock. http://2005.sxsw.com

16 to 20: St Patrick’s Day, Dublin, IrelandFor obvious reasons, the natural place to celebrate St Paddy’s Day is Dublin: the party lasts for a whole five days with the big parade on Thursday 17. The official St Patrick’s Day website provides links to celebrations in other cities – from the more expected London and New York to the off-beat shenanigans in Seoul and Moscow. www.stpatricksday.iewww.ireland.ie

25 to 28: Easter, Rome, ItalyThere are still some places where Easter actually means more than a chance to sell Creme Eggs. We recommend Rome for the more pious, where the Pope’s Easter mass sees a seething throng gather in St Peter’s Square to be blessed by the Pontiff. www.vatican.vawww.enit.it

25: Holi, IndiaHoli is the Hindu festival of colour and is meant to celebrate a bumper harvest. In practice, it degenerates into fun and games, a lot of pranks and everyone getting rather messy. Mauritius hold a similar festival on March 5 this year. www.tourisminindia.comwww.mauritius.net